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Weekend A La Carte (2/2)

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The Superbowl and Women – This is a brilliant and very important article. Give it some time and attention! “I contend that the way we consume iconic national events like the Super Bowl better depicts what we really believe about women and their so-called roles than do our formal theological statements, denominational position papers, teachings about the spiritual disciplines, and admonitions toward modesty and fidelity. For in the invisibility of normality, there we find our idolatry.”

Going Outside the Camp – James Coffield challenges us: “We have all ‘sinned against sinners.’ The church is often quick to reach out and serve those suffering from physical sickness, as it should.” But we do not do so well when it comes to mental illness. “As believers, we are often curious about the factors that may have contributed to the illness, but we are called to be humble and kind. We need humble curiosity when dealing with those afflicted with mental illness.”

Secrets of Grand Central Terminal – This is fun. It’s an interactive map displaying some of the secrets of New York’s Grand Central Terminal.

The Rented Crowd – I always enjoy Conrad Mbewe’s descriptions of the cultural nuances of his context. Here he writes about the African phenomenon of the “rented” crowd and warns you to be careful when counting attendance during your missions trips.

8 Notes on Counseling Abused Children – I’m not sure how helpful it is to distill so serious a charge (the charge to counsel an abused child) down to 8 short points, but I did appreciate Victor Vieth’s attempt to set helpful directions. The final point gives us all a challenge: “Preaching the gospel to abused children involves more than waiting for one to appear in our office or even our churches—it means an active search for the lost.”

Superhero Dad – If you happened to catch the viral photo of a superhero dad and his superhero son out shopping, this article gives context. It never ceases to surprise me how 15 minutes of fame can come about in a digital world!

Sex is from God. He gave it to us as a gift. It’s a wedding gift.

—Bill Shannon

  • AI

    AI Makes Me Doubt Everything

    Most technological innovations take place slowly and then all at once. We first begin to hear about them as distant possibilities, then receive the first hints that they are drawing near, and then one day we realize they are all around us.

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    A La Carte (May 21)

    A La Carte: It’s so easy to think the worst / Don’t overcomplicate your Bible reading / The view from Titus 2 / The definitive guide to documentary filmmaking / Where will I find comfort? / Kindle deals / and more.

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    A La Carte (May 20)

    A La Carte: The foibles and fallibility of Christian leaders / Mental illness / Why didn’t Christ come sooner? / When it’s okay to die / Spiritual formation / and more.

  • Unlock Your Ministry Potential with Microcredentials

    Are you looking for accessible faith-based resources that can help you serve your church community with confidence? Check out Redeemer University’s online church leadership microcredentials—available anytime, anywhere. #Sponsored

  • Discernment

    What Does a Discerning Person Do?

    Some Christians seem to be specially gifted when it comes to spiritual discernment. Others take a special interest in discernment and expend the hard effort of growing in the discipline of it. But they may sometimes wonder: What should I do with this discernment?

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    A La Carte (May 19)

    A La Carte: Dangers of theological controversy / No confidence? No problem! / The goodness of gardening friends / Jeff the low stakes prophet / Hurting people / Kindle deals / and more.